HHAZMAT Training Ltd was established in 2017 by emergency response professionals who have more than 60 years of experience of dealing with incidents involving hazardous materials (HAZMAT). We have been delivering IFE recognised HAZMAT training for many years. This training has been focused on the UK fire and rescue service because of our background in developing the UK FRS's National Operational Guidance on incidents involving hazardous materials.
We recognise that responding to HAZMAT emergencies present a unique challenge. This challenge combines a highly technical and often perceived ‘hard to understand’ subject matter with a low frequency of incidents. This, unlike other areas of emergency response, means that skill acquisition and maintenance is not always possible through operational attendance. Owing to low levels of experience typically available within organisations, training is often too theoretical and academic. This unfortunately results in a lack of pragmatic, proportionate application of HAZMAT guidance, often within unrealistic scenarios and simulations. At 'HAZMAT Training Ltd' we do things differently. We ensure that 'difficult' subjects are broken down into their essential components then anchored in students' minds by the use of real world examples, case studies and practical decision making simulations.
We have extensive knowledge and experience in all areas of HAZMAT response including specialisms such as:
* Hazard recognition, detection and monitoring
* Individual chemical exposure (ICE - chemical suicides)
* Dissolved acetylene hazards
* Asbestos hazard and risk assessment
* Illegal drug labs and the manufacture of home-made explosives
* Radiation protection supervisor and 'informed volunteer' training
* Primary (on-scene) decontamination
* CBRN(e) and Initial Operational response (IOR)
* Lithium-ion batteries
* Ammonium Nitrate fertilisers.
We also devote time to supporting the UK fire and rescue service national operational guidance programme (NOGP) ensuring our experience is always current and based on accepted good practice.
We recognise that responding to HAZMAT emergencies present a unique challenge. This challenge combines a highly technical and often perceived ‘hard to understand’ subject matter with a low frequency of incidents. This, unlike other areas of emergency response, means that skill acquisition and maintenance is not always possible through operational attendance. Owing to low levels of experience typically available within organisations, training is often too theoretical and academic. This unfortunately results in a lack of pragmatic, proportionate application of HAZMAT guidance, often within unrealistic scenarios and simulations. At 'HAZMAT Training Ltd' we do things differently. We ensure that 'difficult' subjects are broken down into their essential components then anchored in students' minds by the use of real world examples, case studies and practical decision making simulations.
We have extensive knowledge and experience in all areas of HAZMAT response including specialisms such as:
* Hazard recognition, detection and monitoring
* Individual chemical exposure (ICE - chemical suicides)
* Dissolved acetylene hazards
* Asbestos hazard and risk assessment
* Illegal drug labs and the manufacture of home-made explosives
* Radiation protection supervisor and 'informed volunteer' training
* Primary (on-scene) decontamination
* CBRN(e) and Initial Operational response (IOR)
* Lithium-ion batteries
* Ammonium Nitrate fertilisers.
We also devote time to supporting the UK fire and rescue service national operational guidance programme (NOGP) ensuring our experience is always current and based on accepted good practice.
Rob Mitchell
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After completing a degree in Applied Chemistry, Rob joined Biffa Waste Ltd where he advised on the transport, handling and disposal of Hazardous Wastes. During his time there he also became qualified as a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor and ultimately their Principle DGSA.
He joined West Midlands Fire Service in 2005 where he provides the role as Scientific Advisor both in a supporting role and as a responder to incidents. He is the only non-uniformed HMEPO and DIM Advisor nationally, combining these skills with extensive chemical knowledge and experience to provide a most unique perspective. During the transition from ‘New Dimension’ to national resilience he took on the role of CBRN lead for West Midlands. He also led the West Midlands DIM team and has been Instrumental in the establishment of the commercially viable ‘Retained’ Scientific Advisor system within the West Midlands region; he now also provides the role of Principle Scientific Advisor managing the specialist team. From a National perspective, Rob has provided he expertise and knowledge to develop the current national operational guidance for hazmat response. |
Bob Hark
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Bob studied civil engineering at The University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) before joining Wiltshire Fire Brigade in 1981. He spent 31 years in the UK Fire and Rescue Service and now works as a consultant and trainer specialising in emergency service operations and contingency planning.
He carried out emergency incident command at operational (BRONZE), tactical (SILVER) and strategic (GOLD) levels during his fire service career. He was a specialist adviser in the following operations:
In 2009 he was attached to the office of the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Sir Ken Knight, and produced the first consolidated national operational guidance for UK fire and rescue services on incidents involving hazardous materials (published by The Stationery Office (TSO) in November 2012. Bob also led fire service planning and operations for the 2012 Olympics Games sailing events in Weymouth (GOLD command level). After retiring from the fire service he became a freelance consultant and trainer. Although he specialises in HAZMAT and CBRN(e) response he also delivers:
In partnership with Tactical Hazmat Ltd. Bob developed and still delivers the Hazardous Materials Adviser (HMA) course and HMA refresher course. Bob was the FRS National Operational Guidance Programme (NOGP) team manager for 'tier one' of the Hazardous materials guidance (published on the UKFRS website 2015). He also led work streams within 'tier two' (e.g. explosives, cylinders, BLEVE, corrosives, physics and chemistry for firefighters etc.) which were published in 2018. |
Matt Gable
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After graduation in chemistry, Matt became the site chemist for a hazardous waste disposal company, in this role he also responded to a range of hazmat incidents and site clean up operations on behalf of a range of different organisations such as local authorities, fire services and the Ministry of Defence.
Matt joined the Environment Agency in 2004 and led the emergency response to pollution incidents in the East Area. He was heavily involved in emergency planning and led on Environment Agency contributions to 3 LRFs and was the chair of the Leicestershire Industrial Hazards Multiagency Group. Matt was the regional lead for the memorandum of understanding between the EA and 8 fire and rescue services and in this role he increased the ability of fire services to protect the environment by the provision of training and equipment. Matt has delivered the environmental elements of the HMEPO course at the fire service college and has developed and delivered many training courses on incident response for many different organisations. Matt has a great deal of experience of facilitating emergency response exercises and has been involved in Leicestershire’s highly successful Vector Command training facility which delivered multi agency strategic and tactical training and exercising. He also developed a range of live play, no notice exercises for the Environment Agency. Matt is also a retained Scientific Advisor for West Midlands Fire Service and supports both the DIM and Hazmat response. He took part in the MAIAT Olympic Torch Relay response and was part of the team that delivered scientific support for the Olympic sailing events in Weymouth. Matt also has a LLb degree in Law. |
